Uk law has certainly improved on this. Back in 1978 as a fresh computing graduate leaving university, I turned down a job with a software house mainly because I was scared of the NCA which would have prevented me getting a job with another software house in the UK. It turned out to be a good move as I got a job with another software house that I liked better and was in a better location!

NDA is part of our job here - we have to do annual data handling training and pass the online test at the higher levels.